Reading Through History: Men of Athens by Olivia Coolidge (1962)

Men of Athens, the 1963 Newbery Honor book by Olivia Coolidge, brings to life the world of Ancient Greece through a series of chapters focused on fictitious characters representing the way that real people lived during this time period. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of Athenian life, from the work of artisans, to the role of jurors, to the opportunities each man had to participate in government. Taken together, these chapters provide a colorful and engaging portrait of an interesting and important time and place in world history.

I read this book with my six-year-old, basically with the understanding that she would enjoy it, but would probably not understand more than the broad strokes. For her, this was very much an introduction not just to Ancient Greece, but also to concepts like democracy, justice, government, and philosophy. As we read, however, I recognized how valuable this book would have been for a student like me in the middle school years. I had a hard time in history class, mostly because I didn't feel a personal connection to the subject matter. Historical events and figures were always presented in a very dry, formal manner, and I couldn't make them stick in my mind. This book, though it obviously fabricates the specifics of the events it covers, really emphasizes the human aspect of history, and it uses an inviting narrative style that makes the reader want to know more. It also relies heavily on the point of view of the everyday person. Even in chapters that focus on real people, such as Sophocles or Timon, these figures are usually seen through the eyes of someone less significant who is able to give perspective on that person's contributions to Athens. As a result, the reader feels that she is observing historical events as they happen, and now just being force-fed a series of meaningless facts.

Though it can be a bit difficult to sort fact from fiction in a book like this, I'm pleased that it's available for readers who really need more of a story-based approach to understanding history. Though my six-year-old is not in the intended age range for this book, she had a much easier time connecting to its characters than she did reading about Ancient Greece from a variety of our other books. When we revisit Greece in fifth grade, I hope she will read this book again independently and get even more out of it. It's definitely one of the best books I've read in our homeschooling life so far, and I would also happily read it again myself!